Method of disintegrating a sand mold while in association with a flask and a casting



Apnl 24, 1962 w. J. HUSTON, SR.. ETAL 3,030,678

METHOD OF DISINTEGRATING A SAND MOLD WHILE IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FLASK AND A CASTING Filed Sept. 8, 1959 NVENTORS 4USTON,5R. DE MOTT AUORNEY United States Patent 3,030,678 METHOD OF DISINTEGRATING A SAND MOLD WHILE IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FLASK AND A CASTING William J. Huston, Sr., Drayton Plains, Mich. (645 Northfield, Pontiac, Mich.); and Arthur E. De Mott, 4145 Eagle Ct., Rte. 1, Drayton Plains, Mich.

Filed Sept. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 838,537 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-190) This invention relates to molding apparatus and, more particularly, to a flask and casting cleaner.

Ordinarily, sand and castings are removed from molding flasks by shaking and jarring, such as with conventionai equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for blowing out and emptying the molding flask of the sand and casting by combustion in place of the aforementioned shaking and jarring operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide molding flask and cleaning apparatus which employs a combustion chamber for exploding a gas or other combustible mixture for blowing out and cleaning a flask so as to ready it for another molding operation.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a molding flask and cleaning assembly of the type described which includes exhaust means for emptying the combustion chamber, and for removing sand, dust, and other residue following the blowing out of the mold.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a molding flask and cleaning apparatus made in accordance with the present invention in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the assembly taken through the lift table of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a front plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, a molding flask and casting cleaner assembly 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a combustion chamber 12 having support brackets 14 for suspending it from a ceiling or wall above the floor level. The exterior of the combustion chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending flanges 15 which serve to cool the interior of the chamber after each explosion therewithin.

As is more clearly shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the bottom of the combustion chamber 12 defines an opening 16 into which one or more molding flasks 18 are placed in association upon a lift table 20 having a plurality of spaced apart drawers 22. The lift table 20 is carried upon a depending post 24 and may be selectively raised and lowered by means of a hand or power operated jack 26 carried upon a base 28. In the lowered position, the lift table 20 is in a plane common to the upper plane of a pair of spaced apart loading tables 30 also having rollers 31 upon which the flasks 18 may be rolled into position beneath the combustion chamber 12.

An ignition chamber 32 is supported upon the top of the combustion chamber 12 and is provided with any suitable means for supplying an explosive fluid to the interior of the combustion chamber 12 and for igniting such fluid to effect an explosion with the flasks 18 in association with the lowermost opening 16 thereof. The force of such explosion is sufficient to jar the sand and casting within the flasks 18 to allow for the removal of such sand casting to ready the flask for the next molding operation.

An outlet 34 has a dust removal duct 36 associated therewith, for removing dust, gas, and other residue from the interior of the combustion chamber 12.

It will now be recognized that this apparatus may be used for high speed molding operations, and provides for the thorough cleaning of the molding flasks after each molding operation in a simple and eflicient manner.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The method of removing and recovering mold sand from mold flasks following the formation of a casting therein, including the steps of: receiving a mold sand retaining flask beneath a downwardly open combustion chamber, closing said combustion chamber with said flask, having an explosive charge within said combustion chamber, igniting the explosive charge in said combustion chamber, and directing the explosive wave forces resulting from the ignition of said explosive charge through said flask for blowing out said mold sand therewith and breaking up said mold sand in the course thereof.

2. The method of removing and recovering mold sand from mold flasks following the formation of a casting therein, including the steps of: receiving a mold sand retaining flask which is open at opposite sides thereof adjacent an open combustion chamber, closing said combustion chamber with said flask, introducing an explosive charge within said combustion chamber and igniting said charge therein, and directing the explosive wave forces resulting from the ignition of said explosive charge through said flask for blowing out said mold sand therewith and breaking up said mold sand in the course thereof.

3. The method of removing and recovering mold sand from mold flasks following the formation of a casting therein, including the steps of: receiving a mold sand retaining flask beneath a downwardly open combustion chamber, raising said flask into closing engagement with the opening in said combustion chamber, having an explosive charge within said combustion chamber, igniting the explosive charge in said combustion chamber, and directing the explosive wave forces resultant from the ignition of said explosive charge through said flask for blowing out said mold sand therewith and breaking up said mold sand in the course thereof.

4. The method of recovering castings and mold sand from mold flasks including the steps of: receiving a mold sand retaining flask having a casting encased in said sand beneath a downwardly open combustion chamber, closing said combustion chamber with said flask, having an explosive charge within said combustion chamber, igniting the explosive charge in said combustion chamber, and directing the explosive wave forces resulting from the ignition of said explosive charge through said flask for blowing out said casting and mold sand therewith and separating said mold sand from said casting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,028,933 Dean et al May 4, 1937 2,399,680 Keefer May 7, 1946 2,585,105 Frank Feb. 12, 1952 2,651,087 Fellows Sept. 8, 1953 2,714,563 Poorman Aug. 2, 1955 2,826,369 Haltmeier Mar. 11, 1958 2,829,406 Gernhardt Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,974 Germany May 29, 1958 

